USA Hockey's Lou Vairo to speak at induction

By U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, 09/26/07, 10:30AM MDT

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Lou Vairo (Colorado Springs, Colo.), head coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and one of the most renowned coaches in United States hockey history, will be the featured speaker at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Friday, October 12, at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, N.D., it was announced today by USA Hockey.

Vairo, currently the director of special projects for USA Hockey, also helped guide the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team to the silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, as an assistant coach to Herb Brooks. He served as the head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team on four occasions (1979-82, 2003) and the U.S. Men’s National Team five times (1983, 2000-2003). Vairo also spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League.

Vairo received the Lester Patrick Award in 2000 for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States. In 1994, he was the recipient of both the John “Snooks” Kelly Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association for his contributions to the growth and development in hockey in the United States and the Walter Yaciuk Award from USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program for his contributions and commitment to the development of U.S. coaches. He has also authored multiple books and articles on hockey used by coaches around the world.

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will honor 2007 inductees Aaron Broten, Bobby Carpenter, the late John MacInnes and John Vanbiesbrouck.

A limited number of tickets for the event, which begins at 7 p.m. CT, are still available for $65 each and can be purchased in person at the Ralph Engelstad Arena or by calling 701-777-6609.

NOTES: Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. dinner … The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game, pitting defending national champion Michigan State against host North Dakota is set for Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. Tickets may be purchased at the Ralph Engelstad box office, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 701-772-5151.